Seattle-Sonoran Foundation
The Seattle-Sonoran Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. In 2024, it reported 57 grants totaling $390,000 to organizations in several states.
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation at a glance
In short: Seattle-Sonoran Foundation gave $390K across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Washington. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $390,000
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,842
- +12.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,761,460
- +1.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (10 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Seattle-Sonoran Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. There are no formal application forms; submit an inquiry by mail. The filing lists Thomas W. Phillips as the contact. It states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Thomas W Phillips
Mailing address: 11025 E Honey Mesquite Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262-3265
Phone: (206) 399-4455
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Seattle-Sonoran Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was EWU Foundation ($60K). Together the top 10 received $160K.
Grant Size Distribution
279 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 274 grants of 279 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. Washington received 61% of the total, California 19%, Oregon 5%, Idaho 4%, and New York 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Seattle-Sonoran Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 57 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $304K (2020) to $617K (2021). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $390K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EWU Foundation Cheney, WA | Molly Phillips Fund | $60,000 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Fdn Seattle, WA | General Program Support | $15,000 |
| Alexandria House Los Angeles, CA | General Program Support | $12,500 |
| School on Wheels Ventura, CA | General Program Support | $12,500 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget S Seattle, WA | General Program Support | $10,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Program Support | $10,000 |
| Freshwater Trust Portland, OR | General Program Support | $10,000 |
| Global Partnerships Seattle, WA | General Program Support | $10,000 |
| Happy Trails for Kids Santa Monica, CA | General Program Support | $10,000 |
| Kid Works Santa Ana, CA | General Program Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Seattle-Sonoran Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,761,460 | $446,389 | $397,494 | $390,000 | 57 | $390,000 | $446,389 | $400,651 |
| 2023 | $2,727,828 | $113,206 | $335,602 | $330,000 | 54 | $330,000 | $113,206 | $334,082 |
| 2022 | $2,956,282 | $300,689 | $377,336 | $367,000 | 57 | $367,000 | $300,689 | $325,424 |
| 2021 | $3,048,192 | $472,054 | $627,787 | $616,500 | 55 | $616,500 | $472,054 | $336,780 |
| 2020 | $3,226,819 | $477,447 | $305,744 | $304,000 | 56 | — | $217,459 | $267,866 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Seattle-Sonoran Foundation reported a distributable amount of $401K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission or specific funding focus areas are stated in the available information. Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of work represented among recipients: Alexandria House describes providing supportive housing and services for women and children experiencing homelessness and trauma; School on Wheels describes enhancing educational opportunities for children experiencing homelessness; and OPAL Community Land Trust describes providing permanently affordable homes and related support on Orcas Island.
Other 2024 recipients include Global Partnerships, which describes its charitable mission as expanding opportunity for people living in poverty in developing countries, and Happy Trails for Kids, which describes providing outdoor experiences, mentorship, and community for children in foster care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 57 grants totaling $390,000. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $60,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest listed award was $60,000 to EWU Foundation for the Molly Phillips Fund. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation for general program support, and $12,500 each to Alexandria House and School on Wheels.
Additional 2024 grants included $10,000 to Global Partnerships, OPAL Community Land Trust, Happy Trails for Kids, and Mary’s Place, each listed for general program support. Other 2024 recipients included Southern Poverty Law Center and Priceless Puppy Rescue, which each received $10,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas W. Phillips as President, and Peggy Van Sice Phillips, Benjamin S. Phillips, and Christopher Charlie C. Phillips as Vice Presidents.
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation is led by Thomas W. Phillips, President & T on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas W. Phillips
President & T
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Benjamin S. Phillips
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher Charlie C. Phillips
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peggy Van Sice Phillips
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Seattle-Sonoran Foundation
How much does Seattle-Sonoran Foundation give each year?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation gave $390K across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $330K across 54 grants.
What is Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's typical grant size?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,842, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Seattle-Sonoran Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Seattle-Sonoran Foundation give grants?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (19%) and Oregon (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (26 grants), Spokane, WA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Seattle-Sonoran Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's largest grantees?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include EWU Foundation ($60,000), Seattle Children's Hospital Fdn ($15,000) and Alexandria House ($12,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Seattle-Sonoran Foundation?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $390K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $401K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Seattle-Sonoran Foundation fund?
No foundation mission or specific funding focus areas are stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Seattle-Sonoran Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's EIN?
Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2010842. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Seattle-Sonoran Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/seattle-sonoran-foundation-morg_32dbeba2f2ec4342844c0bf023cd461e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_912010842_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Seattle-Sonoran Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/seattle-sonoran-foundation-morg_32dbeba2f2ec4342844c0bf023cd461e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Seattle-Sonoran Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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